Pianissimo device of the curtain type



G. CLOETENS.-

PIANISSIMO DEVICE OF THE CURTAIN TYPE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. 1921.

1,392,247, PatentedSept. 27, 1921.

Fig. 2. I 1 H UNITED STATES GEORGES CLOE'IENS, or BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, ASSIGNOR or ONE-THIRD LALOUX, or LIEGE, BELGIUM, AND ONE-THIRD T0 LOUIS VAN HAUZEUR, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

PATENT OFFICE.

T0 GEORGES DER HEYDEN A rmmssmo DEVICE or THE cUE'rAIN TYPE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, Gnonens CLoETENs, manufacturer of organs at Brussels, Belgium, 37 Rue de Lauzanne, a subject of the King of Belgium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Pianissimo De vices of the Curtain Type; and I do hereby ydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures ofreference marked therein, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a pianissimo device of the curtain type, being a division of an application entitled Stringed musical instruments, filed Jan. '19, 1920, Serial No. 352,345.

The object of the invention is to provide apparatus for use in connection with stringed instrument played by hammers for interposing a band of felt, leather, woven fabric, or other flexible material, between the strings and the hammers :Eor softening the sounds produced by the strings.

The above result is attained according tothe present invention by providing supporting means for the flexible band so arranged with respect to the musical instrument with which it is associated that the band may be inserted between the strings and hammers by a movement at right ngles to the strmgs and in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the strings whereby all or a portion only of the strings may be affected.

In the accompanying drawings, whlch show, by way of example, some constructional forms of the invention,-

Figure 1 is a partly diagrammatic view of the general arrangement of the strings of a piano and of the apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of a portion of the pianissimo device illustrated in Fig. 1'.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of pianissimo device. V

p The strings 3 are stretched in the usual way over the plate 1, 2. They are operated Specification of Letters latent. Patent d S t 27, 1921 Original application filed January 19, 1920, Serial No. 352,345. Divided and thi March 7, 1921. Serial No. 450,498.

in the usual way by'hammers acting at a certain distance from the front part 1 of the plate.

Theapparatus for softening the sounds of the strings comprises, in the constructional form ofthe lnvention illustrated in Figs. '1 and 2, two bands 4 of felt, leather, textile fabric or other flexible material, passing over terminal reels 5 and supported by two firmly stretched ribbons 6 in such manner that the bands 4 can remain slack when they areinserted between the hammers and strings. The blow of the hammer is then transmitted to each string through the band 4 so that the sound is softened.

Each reel 5 is provided with a spiral spring 7 and a ratchet wheel 8 with which a pawl 9 cooperates. (To the free end of each band 4 is attached a rod 10 by means of which the band may be moved and which at the same time acts as an indicator of the position of the band. As the band 4 is unwound oil the reel in moving it between the hammers and strings, spring 7 is wound up and the pawl 9, under the influence of its s application filed (not shown) spring 11, engagestheratchet 8 and prevents rewinding of the band on the reel.

When the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet, the spring 7 turns the reel in the direction to withdraw the band from between the hammers and strings and rewind it I on the reel.

Fig. 3 shows a somewhat simpler construction of pianissimo device than that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this form of the invention tour guide pulleys 5 are provided, two at each side of the plate 1, 2. A band 4 of felt or the like extends over the pulleys 5 and has its ends connected by cords or ribbons so as to form an endless strip. One of the pulleys 5 is provided with a handle 12.

It will be obvious that with the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it is possible to soften the sounds of all or any number of the strings by moving either or both of the right and lefthand bands 4 between any desired numberof strings and hammers. With the contruction shown in Fig.3 the band 4 may be moved from either the right-hand side of. the piano or from the left-hand side thereof between any desired number of strings and hammers by turning the. handle 12 in the desired direction.

Having now particularly described my invention in certain of its embodiments What I claim is l. A stringed musical instrument played by hammers, and having a band of felt or the like supported in proximity to a side of the instrument for insertion between the strings and the hammers by a movement at right angles to the strings and in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the strings.

2. In a stringed instrument played by hammers, two bands of felt or the like mounted to be inserted at the will of the player between the strings and the hammers, guiding ribbons stretched transversely between the hammers and the strings over the whole width of the instrument for supporting said bands, and guiding reels at each side of the instrument for said bands.

8. In a stringed instrument played by hammers, two guiding ribbons stretched transversely between the hammers and the strings, a reel at each side of the instrument, a band of felt or the like wound upon each reel, a handle at the free end of each band, a spring producing the winding up of each reel, a ratchet on each reel and a pawl engaging said ratchet and adapted to lock the reel against the action of its spring.

at. In a stringed instrument played by hammers, two guiding ribbons w stretched transversely between the hammers and the strings, reels at the ends of said ribbons and under the instrument, and bands of felt or the like led on said ribbons and reels.

In testimony whereof I affix my-signature in presence of two witnesses.

V GEORGES CLOETENS. Witnesses:

LOMERID LEVER.

GEORGES VANDER HAEYDEN, 

